Braking system



Aug. 16, 1932. J GAYAN 1,871,979

BRAKING SYSTEM Filed April 28, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. GAYAN BRAKING SYSTEM Aug. 16, 1932.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 28. 1931 Aug. 16, 1932. J. GAYAN 137 979 BRAKING SYSTEM 1 Filed April 28, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 16, 1932 i 1,371,979,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application filed April 28, 1931. Serial in). 533,512. 7

Bending or breaking of the lever guides The lower ends of these two levers are con forming parts of the braking systems of railnected with each other by a spreader 15 way trucks and breaking of the hangers which through which motion applied to the live lesupport the brake beams of said trucks, as ver 13 is communicated to the dead lever 14 heretofore constructed, are of frequent and said levers are respectively connected, in- 55 curence and not only call for repairs, the termediate their ends, to the beams by expense of which is considerable in the aggremeans operative to cause said beams to be gate, but also are attended with danger to moved into and out of brake applying posilives and property. The purpose of this in tion when said levers are correspondingly opvention is to eliminate the said expense and erated. c

the said danger to lives and property by means As here shown, each end of the spreader is of simple, practicable and effective nature. bifurcated to provide a pair of longitudinally This purpose is attained by the construcextending spaced arms between which tion illustrated in the accompanying drawthe lower ends of the corresponding levers ings, in which: 13,14 are mounted and held upon a trans- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a railway truck versely extending pivot bolt. The bolt conembodying the instant improvement; necting the lower end of thelive lever 13 to Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section one end of the spreader is marked 15 and through the same on the line 22 of Fig. 1; the bolt connecting the lower end of the dead Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on lever 14 to the other end of said spreader is the line 33 of Fig. l; marked 15.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation and on a larger The connections of the levers 13 and 14, scale than any of the preceding figures of the respectively, to the beams are provided by exelement employed in the respective chains for tending the levers through openings formed readily attaching appropriate chain links in projections 16, 16 which extend from and 7:5 with each other to form a sustaining loop for preferably are integral with said brake beams,

the corresponding part of a brake beam; and within which openings the levers are Fig. 5 is a plan view of the said element; mounted on pivot bolts 16*, 16 which extend and transversely through the levers and are cars Fig. 6 is a detail representation showing ried by the sides ofthe respective projections. 8c one end of the member which forms an ele- These projections extend from places midway ment of the safety guide for the dead lever the lengths of the respective beams.

of the braking system. A brake rod 17 having its rear end bifur- Similar reference characters designate corcated, as shown at 17 to receive a portion responding parts in the several views. of the live lever 13 intermediate the pivot bolt 8-? Each of the brake beams, which may be 16 and the upper extremity of said lever, has of usual or any suitable construction is desits said bifurcated rear end pivoted to the ignated by the reference number 10 and is contiguous part of the lever through the meprovided at each of its ends with a shoe 11 dium of a pivot bolt 17. The outer end of also of the usual or any suitable constructhe brake rod 17 is pivoted at 18 to one end 9!) tion. Each brake beam has a reinforcing of a floating lever 18 through which longitutruss bar 10 and is supported at its oppodinal motion is transmitted to said brake rod site ends by hangers 12, which may be of the in applying and releasing the brakes. usual or any suitable construction adapted As shown best in Fig; 1, a bar C arranged to permit the beam to be moved toward and on the top surface of the body of the truck away from the wheels A of the truck in apbolster B at one side of the center of said plying and releasing the brakes. I bolster and having its respective ends pro- 13 designates the live lever at one end 0 truding beyond the front and rear sides of the truck bolster B and 14 designates the the bolster, is provided. The connection bedead lever at the other end of said bolster. tween this bar C and said surface of'the bol- 1 ship with the upper end of said lever, the

said upper end projecting into and being movable back and forth within said slot. The side arms 21 of the lever guide thus formed have their inner ends engaged for a substantial distance, at 21 and are rigidly united to, the top surface of the bolster. The other end of the bar, namely, the end which protrudes beyond the side of the bolster at which the dead lever 14- is located, comprises a pair of spaced arms 22, 23 whose outer ends are connected with each other by a cross member 24. The inner end of the arm 23 has a lateral projection 25 which lies against and is rigidly united with the corresponding side of the bolster. This protruding part of the bar C provides a strong and rigid substantially horizontal yoke. -shaped member of the guiding means for the dead lever 14, the other member of which guiding means is provided by a bar 26 spaced from the arm 23 and secured to said arm, by fastening bolts, 27, 27% respectively. The bolt 27. extends through a spacing washer 29 similarly arranged between the arm-23 and bar 26. The dead lever 14: is

Y made sufficiently long :to extend through the space between said arm 23 and bar 26 and is provided with an elongated slot 30. through which .a bolt 31 extends, the said bolt also eX- tending through the bar 26and arm 23, as shown. It will be evident that this means provides a guide for the dead lever whichovercomes all liability of accidental bending of the lever or breakage of the guide and hence overcomes one of the fruitful causes of expense and danger to lives and pr perty to.

which the dead lever guides hereinbefore employed are subject. It will be understood that the dead lever operates within the described guide between the lug 28 and the washer 29 when the corresponding brake beam is being operated in the application and release of the brake and that the bolt 31 and slot 30 cooperate in permitting longitudinal movement of the dead lever in accord with movement of said beam toward and away from said wheels.

Since the members 16,through which the levers 1-3 and 14 extend, project from the central portions of the respective beams 10, andsince the lever guides are arranged at one side of said center, it follows that said levers are laterally inclined to a corresponding extent, as shown in the. drawin s. and

hence the walls of the opening in which the lever 13 operates are correspondingly beveled and the walls of the arm 23 and bar 26 be-- tween which the lever 14: operates are correspondingly inclined to be engaged by and to guide said levers. It will thus be seen that all liability of the failure of the brakes to work properly due to bending of the levers or breakage of their guides is overcome.

To avoid the consequences attendant upon breakage of the hangers which support the brake beams, I have provided a means which forms the subject of a separate application for patent filed by me June 16, 1932 as a division of the instant application, the Patent Ofiice having held that it is for an inention separate from that relating to the brake linkage which forms the subject of the claims retained in the instant application. Said means supplements the hangers ordinarily employed and will effectively support the brake means when said hangers fail. This means is here shown as chains 1) operativelyrelated to the brake beams and adequate to avoid all displacement thereof sufficien-t-to interfere with the setting or releasing of the brakes when any of the -corre sponding hangers become inoperative. These chains are of special construction now to be set forth, in detail.

In practice, four of these chains D are preferably employed and two of the same are used for opposite ends of the respective beams 10. Each is secured at its upper end to the corresponding end of a bar E, which bar is firmly secured, asby welding, for example, to the upper surface of the bolster B and protrudes at its opposite ends beyond the front and rear sides of said bolster.

Eye-bolts36 having securing nuts 36 are preferably employed as the means for securing the chains to said bars. Each chain is suspended from the eye of the corresponding eye-bolt and is composed of a number of longitudinal strong links 37, a lateral link 37 and a connector which comprises a body 37 whose upper and lower ends are respectively provided with lateral extensions 37 and 37, the latter having an opening 37". In each chain assemblage the lateral exten sion 37 of the connector forms a foot piece which is engaged by two of the links 37 when the chain has been looped about the corresponding brake beam 10. One of these links is in the downwardly extending side of the chain. and extends through the opening 37 in said foot piece and the other link is in the upwardly extending side of the chain and said foot piece extends therethrough. The latter link, here shown as the one at the end of the chain opposite the eye-bolt, is arranged upon the foot piece at aplace inward of the other link, when the chain has been assembled about the corresponding beam, as shown in Fig. 3. I

These chains are respectively looped loose- 1y about the corresponding brake beams near the ends of the latter and serve to supportthe beam in fully operative position in the event that the corresponding hanger or hangers 12 fail to perform their function by reason of breakage or otherwise and at the same time do not interfere with the movement of the brake beams in the setting and releasing of the brakes when the hangers 12 are operating properly. It will be noticed that their construction is such that they may be quickly and easily arranged in operative relationship with the beams merely by looping the chains around the lower sides of-the beams and next inserting the selected link 37 of the upwardly extending side of the chain over the projection 37 and down onto the foot piece 37 and then inserting the projection 37 through the link 37*. It will be noticed, in relation to this operation, that the connector is substantially a permanent part of the particular link 37 on the downwardly extending side of the chain which extends through the opening in the footpiece,

and that its projection 37 is disconnectible' from the link 37 and hence it will be apparent that when said projection 37 is disconnected from said link 37 a the link 37, on the upwardly extending side of the chain, which is or is to be mounted upon the footpiece 37 may he slipped off or onto said footpiece over the pro ection 37 It will be noticed that these chains may be readily applied to a car truck whether new or old and that the connectors 39, forming elements thereof, provide simple, practicable and strong means capable of withstanding the weight imposed thereon through the links of the chains as well as being conducive to the easy application of the chains in operative relationship with the truck bolster and brake beams. It will also be apparent that they render unnecessary the use of the bars or strikes heretofore provided to catch the brake beams when the hangers break and with reference to which practicable experience has proved their ineffectiveness when needed,

since they frequently bend or break under the weight of the beams and permit the latter to fall to the roadway with consequent danger to lives and to the train and road-bed.

It will also be noticed that the yoke-shaped portions which protrude in opposite directions from the top surface of the truck bolster B are arranged in substantially a flatwise position and are connected with each other by the member C, with which they are shown as being integrally formed, and which member is disposed in a flatwise position upon and is rigidly secured to said top surface of the bolster. This construction and correlation of parts assures maximum rigidity and strength essential to avoid all liability of breakage or bending of these elements, by which the levers are guided. The arm 23 of the dead lever 14 is somewhat inclined downward and rearward from themember 24 of said yoke in order that its flange 25 may be of sutli cient length to extend underneath the arm 22 and be engaged with the front surface of the truck bolster throughout a considerable length to thereby cooperate with the end of the member C from-which the member 22 projects in assuring a strong and rigid connection of this yoke to the top surface and front surface of the said bolster. 1

Finally, it will be understood that the parts of the truck not herein referred to are, or

lies upon and is rigidly secured to the topsurface of the truck bolster and terminates at one end in a substantially horizontal yekeshaped portion which protrudes from said top surface and has the inner ends of its side arms rigidly united to said bolster, the said yoke-shaped portion having guiding relationship with the corresponding lever.

2. A braking system for railway car trucks, comprising brake beams, levers pivotally con nected between their. ends to members projecting from the respective brake beams, means for transmitting movement fromone of said levers to the other, and a guiding means for the levers including a member which lies upon andis rigidly secured to the top surface of the truck bolster and whose opposite ends respectively project beyond the sides of said bolster and have a guiding relationship with the respective levers.

3. A braking system for railway car trucks, comprising brake beams, levers pivotally connected between their ends to members projecting from the respective brake beams, means for transmitting movement from one of said levers'to the other, and a guiding means for the levers including a member which lies upon and is rigidly se' cured to the top surface of the truck bolster and whose opposite ends are substantially yoke-shaped and respectively project outwardly beyond the corresponding sides of the truck bolster and have a guiding relationship with therespective levers.

4:. A braking system for railway car trucks, comprising brake beams, levers pivotally connected between their ends to members projecting from the respective brake beams, means for transmitting movement from one of said levers to the other, and means for guiding the levers including a member which sit lies upon and is rigidly secured to the top" surface of the truck bolster and projects at one end outwardly beyond the side or" said bolster, a separately formed arm which lies alongside the said projecting end and is rigidly secured thereto in ,a spaced relation therewith to provide an opening whichreceives the upper end of the corresponding lever, said projecting end and arm cooperating to provide a guide for said lever.

5, A braking system for railway car trucks, comprising brake beams, levers pivotally connected between their ends to members projecting from the respective brake beams, means for transmitting movement from one of said levers to the other, and means for guiding the levers including a member which lies upon and is rigidly secured to the upper surface of the truck bolster, said member being formed at one end with a yoke-shaped portion which extends outwardly beyond the corresponding side of the truck bolster and whose free end is formed with a flange rigidly secured to the side of the bolster, a separately formed member which lies alongside 01" one of'the arms of said yoke-shaped portion and is rigidly secured thereto in a spacedrelation therewith to provide an opening having a guiding relationship with the upper end of the corresponding lever.

6. A braking system for railway car trucks, comprising brake beams, levers pivotally connected between their ends to mem- 'f bers projecting from the respective brake beams, means for transmitting movement from one of said levers to the other and means for guiding the levers including a member which lies upon and is rigidly sej cured to the top surface of the truck bolster and is formed at one end with a substantially horizontal yoke-shaped portion which protrudes from said top surface and provides a pair of spaced longitudinal arms between which the upper end of the corresponding lever operates, the edges of said arms forming the walls of said opening being beveled and being engaged by said lever.

7. A braking system for railway car truc-l'rs, comprising brake beams, levers pivotally connected between their ends to members projecting from the respective brake beams means for transmitting movement from one of said levers to the other and means for guiding the levers including a inclination downward and rearward from its outer end, the inner end of the latter arm having a flange which spans the space between the arms and hes flatwise against and is rigidly securedto the frontsurfacc of the truck bolster andmeans secured to the said flanged arm and spaced there-from to provide,

an opening in which the upper end of-the corresponding lever operates.

trucks, a brake beam, a dead lever v connected between its ends to ,a member pro ecting from 8, In a brakng' systein tor railway car;

said brake beam and having its upper end provided with a longitudinal opening, guide projecting from therespective brake beams, means for transmittlng movement from one,

of said levers to the other and means for guiding the levers including a member which lies upon and is rigidly securedto the top.

surface of the truck bolster and is formed at one endwith a yoke-shaped portion which protrudes from said top surface and has one of its other ward arm arranged at an, inclination downand rearward from its outer eu'd,the

inner end of the latter arm having a flange which spans the space between the arms and liesfiatwise against and. is rigidly-secured to the front surface of the truck-bolster andmeans secured to the said-flanged arm and spaced therefrom to providean opening in which the upper end of the corresponding lever operates, the part of the lever whichopcrates in the opening between said arms being formed with. a longitudinal slot and said arms having a pivot which extends through said slot and rclativelyto which'the lever is movable bodily and. pivotalh JOH G na arms arranged-horizontally and to its, 

